Hearing on Rebuilding Coast Guard Infrastructure to Sustain and Enhance Mission Capability
U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
November 16th, 2021 at 10:00 AM EDT
Witnesses:
● Vice Admiral Paul Thomas, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, United States Coast Guard
● Heather MacLeod, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office
● Representative Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Marine Transport
On Tuesday November 16th, 2021 the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation met to discuss shoreside infrastructure, information technology (IT), and data infrastructure support for the U.S. Coast Guard. The goal of the hearing was to advocate for investments within those areas.
The hearing began with opening remarks from Chairman Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24). In his early remarks, Chairman Carbajal declared his support for investment in Coast Guard infrastructure and called for further support through the passing of active bills. Recently enacted, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed into law November 15th, resulted in $429 million dollars having been designated to Coast Guard infrastructure.
Chairman Carbajal pushed for additional funding by citing a 2019 finding from the Government Accountability Office. The finding was that 45% of Coast Guard’s shore infrastructure assets were beyond their designated service term, contributing to a massive backlog. Chairman Carbajal noted that the Build Back
Better Act, if passed, would distribute an additional $650 million for shoreside infrastructure.
Following remarks from Chairman Carbajal, Ranking Member Robert Gibbs (R-OH 7) began his remarks. While Ranking Member Gibbs did not discuss specific bills in his opening remarks, he presented numerous points of inquiry. Namely, Ranking Member Gibbs asked about the Coast Guard’s use of technology and their implementation of other service and agencies’ programs.
Vice Admiral Paul Thomas answered in response to the inquiries, bringing up the desire to continue implementing functional programs from other service branches in an effort to cut costs and labor in developments. For example, Vice Admiral Thomas stated that the Coast Guard has recently implemented the practice of mobile applications which mirror the U.S. Army’s mobile platforms for recruiters. However,
Vice Admiral Thomas too acknowledged the Coast Guard’s own developments. Among their cited developments was the start of electronic medical record storage.
In addition to questions, Vice Admiral Thomas touched upon critical issues in his own remarks. Vice Admiral Thomas noted that in addition to identifying underinvested areas of infrastructure, areas for divestment are continuously being identified within the Coast Guard. By identifying areas to divest, Vice Admiral Thomas concluded that other areas will be better repaired, namely the fleet force, training facilities, and housing under the U.S. Coast Guard.
As the hearing rolled on and more questions were asked, several questions were directed to Heather MacLeod, the Government Accountability Office’s acting director for homeland security and justice. Among questions directed to Ms. Macleod included one from Chairman Carbajal. Chairman Carbjal asked how the Coast Guard plans to maintain resilience amidst natural hazards and climate change.
Ms. MacLeod responded to Chairman Carbajal’s question citing new constructions and major renovations as being one of the Coast Guard’s greatest steps for upkeeping resilience.
The hearing concluded with closing remarks from Chairman Carbajal.
For a recording of the full committee hearing, please visit the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s hearings page here.